Dear Susan,
Frackers, "helping end breast cancer forever [1]."This reprehensible language is actually how Susan G. Komen's website is describing fracking giant, Baker Hughes. Earlier this month Baker Hughes announced plans to paint their fracking drill bits pink in an effort to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Komen is expected to receive a $100,000 donation from Baker Hughes this Sunday at a Pittsburgh Steelers game [2].You can't just pink-wash the fact that fracking is linked to an increased risk of cancer. Frackers fighting breast cancer is like a tobacco company trying to prevent lung cancer. Let's stand up for the people in our lives fighting breast cancer by sending 50,000 signatures to Susan G. Komen TODAY telling them to stop working with the industry whose chemicals actually cause cancer!A 2011 study by the House Committee on Energy identified over 700 chemicals used in fracking, including, benzene, acrylamide, ethylene oxide, bisphenol A (BPA), and formaldehyde -- all well-known carcinogens [3].In fact, Susan G. Komen directly identifies some of these fracking chemicals, like BPA, as environmental risk factors for breast cancer[4]. Fracking also releases a number of chemicals called endocrine disruptors that mimic and interfere with the body's natural hormones, which is why Susan G. Komen's own website says these endocrine chemicals are linked to increased breast cancer risk [4]. So why is Komen partnering with these pink-washing frauds? The cancerous chemicals released through fracking don't care if the drill is pink -- that won't stop them from making real people sick.Let’s send Susan G. Komen 50,000 signatures TODAY to tell them to stop partnering with the same industry that puts our families, friends, and communities at risk of cancer!
Baker Hughes says it plans to distribute 1,000 pink drill bits as part of their Komen partnership to “serve as a reminder of the importance of supporting research, treatment, screening, and education to help find the cures for this disease, which claims a life every 60 seconds,” and that they will include information packets about screening and risk factors [5]. They probably failed to mention that people who live near fracking sites actually have a greater risk for cancer, as well as infertility and birth defects [6]. Pink can't disguise poison. Baker Hughes' ludicrous PR stunt designed to clean up their dirty image is an affront to the 200,000 mothers, daughters, and sisters who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. It's not surprising that the frackers are playing dirty, but Susan G. Komen should not be supporting this deception. We can't let them get away with it. Susan, you can help call out this offense and stand with the brave men and women who've fought this despicable disease. Send your letter to Susan G. Komen now to tell them to dump Baker Hughes and their attempts to pink-wash the cancerous truths about fracking!In it together, Molly Brooksbank SierraRise P.S. Five signatures are even more powerful than one -- after you take action, be sure to forward this alert to your friends, family, and colleagues!
  
References:
1. Susan G. Komen Staff ( accessed 2014 October 23). "Baker Hughes."
2. Baker Hughes Staff ( accessed 2014 October 23). "Baker Hughes Expands Commitment to Susan G. Komen." PR Newswire.
3. United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce Minority Staff (2011 April). "Chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing."
4. Susan G. Komen staff (accessed 2014 October 13). "Environmental chemicals and breast cancer risk."
5. Baker Hughes Staff ( accessed 2014 October 13). "Pink." Baker Hughes.
6. OpenSecrets staff (accessed 2014 September 15). "Hormone disrupting chemicals found at fracking sites linked to cancer, infertility: study." Huffington Post.
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